PS 3501 
•T7 P65 
1915 
Copy 1 



America's Gifts 
to the Old World 



BY 

HELEN W. ATWATER 

AND 

C. F. LANGWORTHY 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 
TO THE OLD WORLD 



4V 



NOV 16 1915 



America's Gifts 
to the Old World 

A PAGEANT OR 
MASQUE FOR 

Home Economics Students 



BYlA 

HELEN W. ATWATER 

AND 

C. F. LANGWORTHY 



A PUBLICATION FOR THE RICHARDS MEMORIAL FUND 

AMERICAN HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION 

BALTIMORE 

1915 



•?&3 S1|X 



ll 






COPYRIGHT, 1915. 
BY AMERICAN HOME ECONOMICS ASSOCIATION. 

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

INCLUDING STAGE PRESENTATIONS 

AND MOTION PICTURE RIGHTS. 




COMPOSED AND PRINTED AT THE 

WAVERLY PRESS 

B* the Williams & Wilkins Company 

Baltimobe, Md., U. S. A. 



INTRODUCTION 

THE REASON FOR THE PAGEANT 

The Pageant or Masque is designed to emphasize the fact that the 
New World gave to the Old many new fruits, vegetables, grains, orna- 
mental plants, dyestuffs, and other things valuable for daily use, as 
well as some new useful arts and new sports which were learned from 
the Indians. It is not too much to say that all of these taken together 
far outweigh in value the gold and silver which the New World also 
gave. It, therefore, seems especially appropriate that home eco- 
nomics students should commemorate this truth and in a way which 
will help others to remember that the New World gave much in ex- 
change for what it obtained from the Old World. 

OUTLINE OF THE PAGEANT 

While the Islands of the Eastern Seas dance and play about them, 
the Old World Continents — Asia, Africa, and Europe — talk together 
of their desire for new things and wonder when the Spirit of Dis- 
covery whom they have sent forth will return and what he will bring 
for their use and their pleasure. 

As they speak together the Spirit of Discovery is seen approaching 
and with him North America, Central America, South America, and 
attendant Islands. He presents them to their sisters of the Old 
World who greet them with great pleasure, and ask if they bring 
things which can be given in exchange for the wisdom of the older 
civilizations. North America, South America, and Central America 
reply that they bring many Gifts, that their gold and silver and useful 
metals will add greatly to the wealth of the world, but that, better 
still, are the fruits of the earth which they bring, to serve man for food, 
for clothing, and for other purposes. They call the Gifts by name 
and lead them one by one to the Spirit of Discovery, who presents 
them in turn to the Old World. Each Gift explains the nature of that 
which he or she represents and is received and welcomed. 



INTRODUCTION 

Europe, Asia, and Africa, with the Islands of the Eastern Seas, 
unite in giving thanks to North and South America. They promise 
the Gifts that they will be used wisely for the good of man. Then all 
unite in praise of Discovery and send him forth again to search old 
lands and new for other Gifts to benefit mankind. 

SUGGESTIONS FOR PRESENTING THE PAGEANT 

In the pages which follow, the outline has been filled in fairly com- 
pletely and as so developed is perhaps rather a masque than a pageant. 
The list of characters called for is quite a long one and the perform- 
ance is rather elaborate if all which is suggested is included, yet 
where circumstances permit the whole may be used with good effect. 
However, it is the outline rather than the details which constitute the 
essential part, and it is believed that by varying the details the per- 
formance may be easily adapted to all sorts and conditions of presen- 
tation. It may be presented indoors or out-of-doors, but lends it- 
self particularly to open-air presentation. There are various ways 
in which it may be made more elaborate or more simple, as occasion 
requires. For example, dyestuffs (cochineal and logwood) and In- 
dian pottery may be added to the list of Gifts if more detail is re- 
quired. On the other hand, where it is desired to simplify the per- 
formance some of the suggested dances and pantomimes may be 
omitted and the list of characters may be shortened by leaving out 
some of the Gifts. Then too, one personage representing the Spirit 
of the Old World may be substituted for those personifying the vari- 
ous countries of the Eastern Hemisphere, and one representing the 
Spirit of the New World for those of the Western Hemisphere, and the 
dialogue adapted accordingly. Further, instead of one actor or a 
group representing each individual Gift, there might be one for each 
group of Gifts; for instance, one for the Grains and Vegetables, one 
for the Fruits, one for Cotton, Wool, Furs, Garments and Ornaments, 
and so on. If still further reduction were necessary, the characters 
personifying the countries of the New World, or Discovery himself, 
might present the Gifts with the explanatory speeches, etc. 

It is easy to imagine circumstances in which the dialogue as here 
given might be unsuitable. In open-air performances on a large scale, 
it would probably be better to elaborate tableaux and pantomimes 

vi 



INTRODUCTION 

as a means of conveying the ideas of the Pageant to the spectators 
rather than to rely on speeches. If it were presented under conditions 
which make it difficult for the hearers to understand the spoken parts, 
it could be given entirely in pantomime, and the action could be easily 
followed provided the program contained some explanations. In 
cases where a simple, easy performance is necessary, it is, of course, 
possible to lessen the work of the actors by cutting the lines somewhat, 
especially perhaps in the dialogue which precedes the entry of Dis- 
covery and the lines in which the Americas describe their general 
characteristics. 

Where possible incidental music should be used, not only for the 
dances, marches, etc., but also to accompany the presentation of the 
Gifts and so on. For the songs any well-known and suitable tunes 
may be used. Indian music, such as has been collected by the 
Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D. C, or can be found in 
Miss Ah"ce Fletcher's "Indian Story and Song" and Miss Natalie 
Curtis's "Indian Book" would be appropriate. Other appropriate 
music might be found in compositions based on Indian motifs by 
McDowell, Cadman, Farwell, Troyer, Burton and others. 

The Old World Continents and Islands should wear costumes sug- 
gesting the lands personified. The Islands should all be impersonated 
by children and their costumes should suggest the tropic, arctic, and 
temperate zones. Costumes of North America, Central America, 
South America, and the Western Islands should represent their re- 
spective types of Indian civilization. Discovery should wear a 
herald's costume. The Singer should wear fifteenth century Spanish 
costume. The Gifts may wear North, Central, and South American 
Indian costumes, as the case may be, or, if preferred, may wear cos- 
tumes which symbolize their character or uses. If the latter are 
chosen, the Indian note should still be emphasized. Standard books 
on Indians and Indian fife will furnish suggestions for such costumes. 



vn 



CHARACTERS 

Continents or the Old World: 

Europe, Asia, Africa. 

Islands of the Eastern Seas: 



Japan, Iceland, Greenland, Azores, Canaeies, 
Celebes, Ceylon, Crete, Madagascar, Heb- 
rides, Isle of Man, and Others. 



The Singer. 

The Spirit of Discovery. 

Continents of the New World: 



North America, South America, and Central 
America. 



Islands of the Western Seas: 



Cuba, Bahamas, Windwards, Porto Rico, Haiti, 
Jamaica, Caribbees, and Others. 



The Gifts of the Western World; 



Corn, Wild Rice, Beans, Pumpkins and Squash, 
Potato, Tomato, Geapes, Pineapple, Cocoa and 
Chocolate, Nuts, Vanilla, Maple Sugar, Tur- 
key, Medicinal Plants, Flowers and Gaeden 
Plants, Cotton, Alpaca Wool, Fues, Gaements 
and Oenaments, Timbee Teees, Spoets and 
Pastimes. 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 
TO THE OLD WORLD 

The Continents of the Old World walk slowly in while the Islands of 
the Eastern Seas troop around them, dancing and singing the opening 
Chorus "Song of the Eastern Islands" which may be repeated as 
often as need be. 

Islands of the Eastern Seas. 

Celibes and Isle of Man, 

Crete and Ceylon, Hebrides, 
Iceland, Spice Isles, Old Japan, 

Where four winds blow, we dot the seas. 
Rock-ribbed coast, or coral atoll, 

Sandy beach or waving trees, 
Home of seabirds or proud castle, 

Islands of the circling seas. 

The Islands of the Eastern Seas then group themselves near the Old 
World Continents, moling quietly about as the Continents talk 
together. 

Asla.. 

The song our Islands sing recalls half-vanished dreams 
And still I wonder — if perchance they may come true. 
Ageless, I yet am old, and long the waiting seems, 
Too oft I tire of what I have and long for new. 

[Asia pauses, her head bowed in thought, and then proceeds: 
Since days so dim that now we scarce can guess 
The wealth and art the world did then possess, 
Toward countries new men's hopes forever move. 
Forever longing for new treasure trove. 

Africa. 

None now can say if 't was in Asia's lands 

Man's life commenced, or by my burning sands; 

It matters not. Whate'er their earliest home, 

A restless spirit forced men far to roam, 

And in each country where their footsteps turned, 

New wealth they found, and wisdom new they learned. 

3 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 

East Indian Islands. 

Eastward they pushed their ever-conquering way 

Beyond the shores of India and Cathay. 

To them our Eastern Isles their tribute yield, 

Pearls of the deep, and fruit of grove and field. 

Japan. 

Then in the kingdom of the Rising Sun 

They seem to pause, their eastward course full run. 

Before them the Pacific, broad and deep, 

For ages trackless, lulls them into sleep. 

There let them rest; when lands now new are old, 

Renewed they'll wake to conquer worlds untold ! 

Europe. 

And while the East thus sinks into the past, 

To North and South ambition's hope is cast. 

Through pathless forest and o'er snowy peak 

They force their way, who still new good do seek. 

Dearer to them than sunny Southern ease, 

My cloud-wrapt North, my wild and windswept seas! 

Africa. 

What is the Spirit that doth urge men go 

To tropic heat or to the arctic snow? 

That bids them leave all comfort, ease, and friends, 

Forever pushing to earth's utmost ends? 

Is it stern need, or is it love of gold, 

Desire for change, or hate of customs old? 

Asia. 

'Tis each of these, and it is something more — 
Longing to see what ne'er man saw before, 
To leave untrod no land, unsailed no deep, 
Unfound no treasure which the earth doth keep. 
Discovery we call this spirit strong, 
Brave men and daring in his train belong; 
Bearing his banner, into each new land 
The first to enter are his toilworn band. 
Theirs are the hardships, theirs too the delight 
Of danger conquered and of well-fought fight. 
To those, less venturesome, who plod at home, 
They bring new riches when returned they come; 
Not gold alone and jewels from the mine, 
But things that make our daily life more fine: — 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

For clothing, silks and linen smooth and cool, 

Furs thick and warm, and weaves of softest wool; 

For foods, new fruits and game and fish, 

Spices and sweets to flavor every dish; 

Vessels of clay and metal finely wrought 

And woods rich-carved to deck our homes are brought. 

While this brave spirit in the world doth live, 

New wealth we'll gain, and knowledge new receive. 

Europe. 

As the Pacific limits Asia's land, 

So the Atlantic beats upon my strand. 

But must its waters ever set the bound, 

Can naught beyond my Western shores be found? 

All the world's sages say it can not be, — 

Still prompts that spirit, "Go ye forth and see." 

Iceland and Greenland. 
Far from the fertile lands with sunshine bright, 
Where rule stern cold and mist and winter's night, 
Men heard the whisper, "For adventure's price 
Launch forth your vessels; seek the Land of Ice." 
They sought and found. Again out toward the sun 
They sailed; and some came back again, but none 
Could make his own the New Land found, and so, 
This venture halts — a tale of long ago. 

Azores and Canaries. 

We, too, allured them, not alone the North; 

In Southern waters, men have ventured forth. 

Leaving behind the Gates of Hercules, 

They reached our peaks that rise from summer seas 

And have strange inswept treasure seen 

Of unknown fruit or leaf or branches green, 

And heard strange tales of Westward lands unseen, 

Yet could not cross the sea that rolled between. 

Europe. 

Straight Westward steering from the coast of Spain 

E'en now one ventures the uncharted main, 

His hope to find that East and West are one. 

What wall befall him ere the goal is won? 

How fierce the gale, how frail his caravel, 

How firm his spirit, let the Singer tell. 

5 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 

A young man {dressed in fifteenth century costume) enters here and 
sings or recites Joaquin Miller's "Port of Ships"* (sometimes 
called "Columbus"), beginning "Behind him lay the grey Azores." 
If this is not feasible, a tableau should be arranged (from one of the 
well-known pictures) — "Columbus Dicovering the New World." 
As this ends, Discovery may be seen in the distance coming towards 
Asia and the others, and with him the New World lands and 
Islands. Asia, who has arisen now, turns towards the West and 
after a glance raises her hand to her eyes and looks steadily. As 
she realizes that it is Discovery whom she sees coming toward her, 
she calls to the others with great joy. 

Asia. 

Behold Discovery! He comes again! 

And who are these he's leading to our ken? 

Discovery [who comes followed by North America, Central 

America, Islands of the Western Seas and South America.] 
Into the West I led your children bold, 
Searching for what might yield you pleasures new, 
Hard was our quest, but not in vain. Behold 
The countries strange I here present to you ! 

[He then presents North America, saying: 
America, New World come forth, 
I call you, Sister of the North. 

North America. 

I am North America, 

I salute you, Oh! Eastern World! 

[She pauses, then speaks again: 

In my North are the tundra and ice fields, 

My midlands are golden with grain, 

I have Southern lands fit for your rice fields, 

Your cotton and green sugar cane. 

On my Eastern slopes rivers are gleaming, 
Your mills their swift waters will turn. 
In my prairies the rich soil is teeming, 
What wealth from its fruits you may earn! 

To the East and the West of these good lands 
My high, rugged mountains do soar. 
Beneath their thick garments of woodlands, 
Lie buried the coal and the ore. 

a This can be found in his complete works or in The Golden Treasury of Ameri- 
can Songs and Lyrics. L. C. Page & Co., 1898, p. 199. 

6 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

In the West, where I meet the Pacific, 
What riot of fruit and of flowers! 
Can you ask for a land more prolific? 
We bid you come share this of ours! 

Discovery. [Presenting Central America.] 
Sister of the South and North, 
Central America, come forth. 

Central America. 

I am Central America, 

I pray you accept my homage. 

[She bows and then proceeds: 

Mountains with snows eternal; 

Jungles of tropical heat, 

Breeding disease infernal; 

Meadows of verdure sweet; 

Art of the Aztec village; 

Temples of Yucatan; 

Marvels of handcraft and tillage — 

Explain me, Old World, if you can! 

Fabulous mines of treasure; 

Oil, an underground store; 

Rare woods and plants without measure — 

These Gifts I bring you, and more! 

Discovery. [Presenting the Islands of the Western Seas.] 
Green Western Islands with your sunny year 
The Old World waits your tale to hear. 

Islands of the Western Seas. 
We are the West-World Isles, 
Hail, Oh! Sisters of the East. 

[They bow and begin to dance, and as 
they dance they sing the following: 

Sunny Isles of the Western Main, 

We bring you fruits and flowers and grain, 

Spices and dyes of every hue, 

Woods with rich grain showing through, 

Flowers new for your gardens gay, 

Drugs to drive your ills away. 

Take from Haiti and Bermuda, 

Jamaica, Porto Rico, Cuba, 

Bahamas, Windwards, Caribbees — 

All the Isles of the Western Seas! 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 

Discovery. [Presenting South America.] 
Hail, South America, come forth, 
Come, speak, and let us know your worth. 

South America. 

I am South America, 

I greet you all, our Old World kin. 

[After a pause she speaks as follows: 

'Twill be ages ere you know me, 

Ere my varied wealth you find, 

For I stretch from burning tropics 

To the cold antarctic wind! 

Here your summer is my winter, 
Here your North is turned to South — 
In my North the steaming jungle, 
South the land of cold and drouth. 

In my forests plants of healing, 
Rubber and choice woods do grow. 
In the South is land for grazing, 
Spite of mist and cloud and snow. 

Boundless are my waving pampas, 
Rich in grains and grasses fine. 
In my warm and sheltered valleys 
Ripen fruit and fertile vine. 

In my stern and snow-crowned mountains 
Hide I silver, yea, and gold; 
Game with fur and wool you'll find there, 
Plants and flowers manifold. 

On my Western shores the Incas 
Build their cities, strange and grand — 
All their history, all their learning 
Will your sages understand? 

Discovery. 

The story of these New Lands now you know, 

If you permit, their Gifts they all will show. 

The Old World Continents and Islands hold out their hands in welcome 
and hail the New World with joy. 

Old World Continents and Islands. 

We wait your pleasure, Sisters of the West, 

We welcome what you bring and offer of our best. 

8 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

The New World Continents and Islands then call the Gifts, one by 
one. When presented to the Old World the Gifts pass to their rear 
and form a group there. 

North, Central, and South America. [Together summoning 

Corn.] 
Hark to the wind which rustles in the corn! 
Come, Maize, and tell us what it is you bear. 

Com approaches, is led to Discovery, and by him presented to the Old 
World Continents. When presented Corn speaks as follows: 

Corn. 

First of the Gifts, accept our Indian Corn, 

Grain white and yellow, red and black or blue. 

From wild ears plucked in dry and tropic climes, 

We've spread it northward to the mighty lakes, 

With patient skill that conquers Nature. 

In autumn nights all dance in praise of corn. 

Like us, you'll grind it into meal for bread, 

Or parch it so it will not spoil; 

Children will joy to shake it o'er hot coals 

And watch the kernels burst pure white. 

Although in cold and cloud-wrapped Northern lands 

It will not thrive and yield its perfect fruit, 

Our Indian maize will grace your verdant South 

And take full rank with grains of native growth. 

Corn plants and ears of corn of different colors braided together by the 
husks or "shucks" and strings of popcorn are then offered and laid 
at the feet of the Old World Continents. Corn may be accompanied 
by a number of attendants and the Indian Corn Dance may follow the 
presentation. 

North America. [Calling Wild Rice.] 
Our streams have a Gift as well as land; 
Wild Rice, Wild Rice, I call you, too. 

[Wild Rice is presented and speaks as follows: 

Wild Rice. 

Another grain we offer you, 

From water meadows and from shallow streams. 

Its graceful stalks bear leaf and seeds like oats, 

Or, better yet, like rice the Orient knows. 

We make our harvest paddling past the plants, 

Beating the grain heads till the ripe seeds fall. 

As time grows old a day mayhap will come 

When 'mid the pressure of your teeming marts 

You'll welcome this, a food from land else waste, 

And thank us for the Gift. 

9 



AMERICA' S GIFTS 

Sheaves of wild rice 9 - or flat winnowing baskets heaped with the grain, 
or both, are then offered and placed beside the corn. 

A pantomime illustrating the wild rice harvest and the winnowing of the 
grain should be given. 

North and South America. [Together summoning Beans.] 
Blossom and pod and clinging vine 
Come hither, Beans, come hither. 

[When presented Beans speaks as follows: 
Beans. 

Between our rows of corn we plant our beans, 
With many-colored bloom and pod and seed, 
And vines that creep or climb and sway. 
Though certain kinds from Eastern lands you've drawn, 
More useful sorts our Western lands shall bring, 
From North and South alike. 
We boil the beans in stone or earthen pots, 
With fish or flesh, or with our Indian corn, 
And name this "succotash." You, too, perchance 
Will learn its name and use and call it "good," 
Just as you will the crisp, brown dish 
Baked in the ashes of our evening fires. 

Indian baskets of different shapes and filled with beans of different 
colors are offered, the beans being poured into a larger basket which 
is placed near the corn and wild rice. If preferred, a basket may 
be held in each hand and beans poured from one to the other with 
appropriate ceremony and then the two baskets placed near the corn 
and wild rice, as suggested. 

An appropriate pantomime or a tableau may be arranged, showing In- 
dians grouped around a camp fire and cooking beans in a pot sus- 
pended from poles. 

North and South America. [Together summoning Pumpkins and 

Squash.] 
Broad leaves of green and fruit and blossom hid, 
Pumpkins and Squash you, too, we call. 

[When presented, Pumpkins and Squash 
speak as follows and then offer their Gifts: 

Pumpkins and Squash. 

Our harvest fields are broad and rich in varied fruit, 
For with our Corn and Beans we plant us Squash 
And "pompions" too, those large and yellow globes. 
Though not unlike the sorts from Asia brought, 
These Western ones shall more enrich your fields 
With cheerful bloom and fruit of green and orange. 

They pile pumpkins and squash with the other Gifts. 

a If wild rice plants are not available, oats, or tall grass, or similar green 
may be used, and wheat may be placed in baskets if the wild rice grain is not 
easily procured. - « 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

South America. [Calling Potato.] 
Come Gift of the high green valley, 
Potato, Potato, come, speak. 

[Potato comes and speaks the following lines 
when presented to Europe, Asia, and Africa. 

Potato. 

From Andean slopes there comes a plant, 
Whose root will feed the world. 
This Gift we bring will grace alike 
The humble board and banquet hall, 
And take its place in housewives' talk 
With bread and meat and milk and fruit. 
But even if it did not hide 
In soft brown earth this ripening store, 
I think it still had found a place 
With sister plants in garden plots, 
Cherished for leaves of cheerful green 
And starry white or purple bloom. 

Potato plants are offered and an Indian basket of potatoes. Several 
of them are lifted up and shown to the Old World Continents and 
then the basket placed with the other Gifts. 

South America. [Summoning Tomato.] 
Fruit of scarlet or yellow 
What is it, Tomato, you bring? 

[Tomato comes and recites the follow- 
ing when presented by Discovery. 

Tomato. 

This luscious fruit you may not trust at first, 

"Love apple" you will call it, treacherous sweet. 

But tho' to deadly nightshade it is kin, 

No poison lurks within the shining red. 

So take this Gift and learn its common use 

So good as fruit and savor. 

Tomato fruits heaped in Indian pottery bowls are then presented and 

placed with the other Gifts. 
Then Beans, Pumpkins and Squash, Potato, and Tomato unite in a 

Harvest Dance, or in a dance which symbolizes Indian ways of 

cultivating these garden crops. 

North America. [Summoning Grapes.] 

Lusty vine with clinging tendrils, 

We call you, Grapes, from plain and hill. 

[Grapes when presented by Discovery speaks: 

11 



AMERICA' S GI FTS 

Grapes. 

Since early days men cherished vines and grapes, 
And joyed in verdant shade and luscious fruit. 
Here for your vineyards old we treasures bring 
Garnered from wooded hills and river banks, — 
Fragrant Niagaras, yellow-green and cool, 
And deep-blue Concords, too, with crimson juice, 
And spicy Scuppernongs, with fragrance sweet 
As is their summer bloom. 

[Long grape vines and bunches of grapes a are presented: 

Central America and The Western Islands. [Summoning 

Pineapple.] 
Strange fruit unlike all others, 
Come, Pineapple, for we bid you speak. 

[When presented by Discovery 
Pineapple speaks as follows: 
Pineapple. 

We bear a scented fruit with crown of green, 
Springing from sword leaves slender, straight, and tall. 
Welcomed 't will be though new to your Old World. 
It comes from tropic isles and links in name 
The worthiest fruit and sturdiest of the trees. 
And in its rough and ruddy-painted skin, 
Whose thorns do warn away too greedy lips, 
Is hid in store a juicy treasure mixed 
Of spices, sweets, and wondrous fragrant things 
The which to sense and sip and taste is joy. 

Large pineapples held high in either hand are offered for inspection 
and then placed with the other fruits. 

Central America. [Summoning Cocoa and Chocolate.] 
Cocoa and Chocolate, strange names and new, 
We wait upon your story. 

[When presented by Discovery Cocoa 
and Chocolate speak as follows: 
Cocoa and Chocolate. 
Where Aztecs build their pyramids so vast, 
And wondrous temples, towns, and gardens fair, 
There grows the cocoa tree whose heavy fruits 
Cling to the trunk as if they feared to trust 
The slender twigs, as others do. 
From seeds of these we make with cunning art — 
A feast, when you have learned to know their use — 
Cocoa and Chocolate. 

a Use artificial ones if others can not be procured. 

12 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

Dried cocoa a fruits should be presented or Indian pottery vessels con- 
taining cakes of chocolate which can be lifted out and held up so 
that the Old World Continents may examine them. 

North and South America. [Together summoning Nuts.] 
Brown nuts from the woodlands 
What is it you bring? 

[Following the presentation 
Nuts speaks as follows: 

Nuts. 

Add to your Old World store of nuts — your cobs, 

Pistachios, almonds, and your walnuts sweet — 

The sorts we offer from our Newer World: 

Our hickories, pecans, and cashews, too; 

The rough, black walnuts of our prairies wide; 

The dark and pointed nuts of far Brazil, 

And peanuts which so much the children prize. 

Take, too, our homely butternuts, whose juice 

Doth yield a dye that stains the hands 

Of those who seek to pluck them still unripe. 

Branches of nut trees and small baskets of nuts are offered. The latter 
are shaken out from the baskets, with appropriate ceremony. 

South America. [Summoning Vanilla.] 
Sweet-scented Vanilla, take your place, 
We wait upon you, come! 

[When Discovery presents her 
Vanilla bows low and speaks: 
Vanilla. 

In forests dark on tropic river banks 
The slender creepers hang from tree to tree, 
And one of them bears many pale, winged flowers 
And slender seed pods with a wondrous scent — 
The dark vanilla beans. 

As often as you use them for your household needs 
Think of our tropic forests and of Indian youths 
Who offer them to you. 

Flowering creepers' representing the vanilla plant are presented and 

also handfuls of vanilla beans. 
Grapes, Pineapple, Cocoa and Chocolate, Nuts and Vanilla now unite 

in a dance symbolizing fruits of the field and forest. 

a Cocoa fruits can be procured from a manufacturer of chocolate. 

b Fresh creepers and flowers may be used or artificial ones, if this is more con- 
venient. If vanilla pods can not be procured, use slender bean pods dyed or 
painted brown. 

13 



AMERICA' S GIFTS 

North America. [Summoning Maple Sugar.] 
Gift of the forest, spicy and sweet, 
Come, Maple Sugar, speak. 

[Maple Sugar, following next, recites these 
lines when Discovery presents her. 

Maple Sugar. 

We bear a gift from forests cold and white. 
It is not honey as you first might think, 
But sap from our tall maples, which in spring 
The children seek and sip when no one sees. 
The older folk boil down this liquid sweet 
Until 'tis thick like wax when poured on snow, 
Or, often, till it yields a firm, brown cake — 
The maple sugar of our forests feasts. 

Maple branches and cakes of maple sugar are presented. 
A pantomime may be arranged showing some of the processes the Indians 
followed in maple sugar making. 

North and Central America. [Summoning Turkey.] 
Proud bird with broadspread tail and strutting gait, 
Come, Turkey, take your place. 

[When introduced Turkey speaks as follows: 

Turkey. 

Our fields and mountains, lakes and streams 

Our hunting ground for ages long have been, 

And yielded food and skins and fur and quills. 

From this great store one Gift we bring — 

The turkey, New World bird of Asian name, 

(A fitting mate for pheasant, gorgeous plumed) 

With breast of black and green and burnished bronze, 

To join your group of farmyard fowl. 

Accept these feathers and this broadspread wing 

In proof of what we say. 

Turkey then presents an Indian war bonnet of turkey feathers and two 

widespread turkey wings. 
A Hunting Dance or pantomime should follow here. 

North, Central, and South Ameeica. [Together summoning 

Medicinal Plants.] 
Herbs of healing come forth, 
From forest and meadow, come forth. 

[Medicinal Plants — represented by one 
or, preferably, by several Indian medi- 
cine men — speaks the following lines: 

14 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

Medicinal Plants. 

From Nature we seek cures for all our ills — 

Poke and bloodroot, boneset and sassafras, 

But, best of all, we bring to you 

The bitter bark of Far Peru, Cinchona. 

Its virtues we have proved by ancient use. 

From this will wise men draw in later years 

The potent snow-white drug quinine 

To bring back health so oft when all else fails. 

Bundles and baskets of herbs, bark, and leaves are presented and the 
Dance of the Medicine Men follows. 

North, Central, and South America. [Calling forth Flowers 

and Garden Plants.] 
Blue, red, and yellow; bud, flower, and leaf, 
Old gardens wait your coming. 

[After presentation Flowers and 
Garden Plants speak as follows: 

Flowers and Garden Plants. 

Our Western World is rich in garden Gifts; 

And these we offer freely for your use. 

Do not palmettos and our tropic ferns 

Rank well with palms and slender, green bamboo? 

With your green ivy twine our smilax green, 

Virginia creeper, and that other vine 

Whose flowers are trumpets orange red. 

To primrose add arbutus of our spring; 

For summer California poppies gay; 

For autumn golden rod and asters tall, 

The flaming maple leaves and bitter-sweet 

With wrinkled globes of red in orange cups; 

And for the winter days hang branches long 

Of New World pine and balsam, spruce and fir. 

Flowers? vines, and garlands are offered and then follows a Dance of 
the Flowers. 

North and South America. [Summoning Cotton.] 
Fields white with cotton like a snowy fleece, 
Your beauty and your bounty bring. 

[Introduced by Discovery, Cotton recites the following: 

* Artificial flowers, leaves, etc., may be used in combination with natural flowers, 
if any of those which are mentioned can not be conveniently procured. 

15 



AMERI CA' S GIFTS 

Cotton. 

Wool from the flocks you have, and flaxen fibers strong, 

And silk of Chinese worms grown fat on mulberry leaves, 

And in the Orient, too, the silky cotton plant, 

Whose thread your weavers and your dyers know. 

But that your garments may be better and more cheap, 

You need our sturdy West-World cotton for your looms. 

Cotton plants* are presented with appropriate ceremony. 

South America. [Calling Alpaca Wool.] 
Warp, woof and thread so soft and fine 
Alpaca Wool, you, too, must speak. 

[Introduced , Alpaca Wool speaks as follows: 
Alpaca Wool. 

For woolen weavers, too, we bring a share, 
Andean alpaca with its shaggy coat 
With which to weave a strong and glistening cloth. 
By evening fires our women sit and spin 
And weave old tales while bending at their looms. 
Their fine, strong cloths do not seem strange to you 
But like to those which Asia holds, for note 
The blankets bear familiar forms and hues, 
And show the selfsame weave and stitch. 
Did Nature teach these stranger lands alike, 
Or can we think that one from other learned? 
But when and how? Who can the riddle read 

Braided strands of wool and bobbins wound with different colors, or if 
preferred, an Indian distaff and a length of bright-colored cloth, are 
presented. 

North and South America. [Summoning Furs.] 
Fox and muskrat, beaver and coon, 
Furs, old and new, a precious store. 

[When introduced by Discovery 
Furs speaks the following lines: 
Furs. 

Furs, too, we offer, some which you now know, 
And others which as yet you have not seen, — 
Thick robes from bisons of our boundless plains, 
Or skins of coon and muskrat for your common use, 
And from the bleak and icy mountain heights 
Chinchillas grey and soft for ladies fine. 

Skins of different animals are offered and piled with the other Gifts. 

a If cotton plants are not at hand, they may be procured from some one of the 
home economics schools in the Southern States, or may be made by fastening 
small bunches of cotton to branches of suitable shape. 

16 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

North, Central, and South America. [Together calling Gar- 
ments and Ornaments.] 
Blankets and belts with patterns that tell of Nature, 
We wait to hear your tale. 

[When presented by Discovery, Garments 
and Ornaments speak the following lines: 

Garments and Ornaments. 

Our garb is rude, as fits our rude, rough life, 

Fashioned from fur and skins and fibers strong. 

Yet our gay blankets you may well admire, 

Our leather wrought with feathers, quills and shells. 

Our moccasins of warm and soft tanned skin 

May meet your need for household use. 

Or, when in winter on our snowshoes fleet 

You brave the deep, soft snow in wood or field 

You'll find them better than your own stiff boots. 

So take the Indians' Gift to meet your need. 

Blankets , feather work, and similar things are shown and moccasins are 
offered to the Old World Continents, who examine them with great 
interest and try them on, after which they are placed with the other 
Gifts. 

Then follows a pantomime or dance illustrating Indian spinning, weaving 
and other household arts. 

North, Central, and South America. [Together summoning Tim- 
ber Trees.] 
The branches wave, the trunks stand tall and straight, 
Hark, Timber Trees, we call you from your groves. 

[When introduced by Discovery, Timber Trees — 
best represented by five or more men or a group of 
men and women — recites the following: 

Timber Trees. 

Behold strong trees to make you household goods. 

Dark, rich-marked rosewood from the Amazon; 

Mahogany of red or golden hue. 

Though when you seek these nobler woods and fine 

Do not o'erlook our baywood, pine, and spruce. 

Black walnut, too, we give to meet your need. 

But, mark you well, if you abuse this store 

Of woodland wealth Nature will cease her Gifts 

Till you have learned a husbandry as good 

Of grove and forest as of field and farm. 

Branches of trees are presented and also Indian spear handles, arrows, 

bowls, and other implements made of wood. 
A Dance of the Trees follows. 

17 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 

North and South America. [Summoning Sports and Pastimes.] 

Sport has its place as well as toil, 

Come, show your elder sisters how the New World plays. 

[After Discovery has presented them 
Sports and Pastimes speak as follows: 

Sports and Pastimes. 

And now come we, the last of Gifts here gathered, 

The New-World sports to meet the changing year. 

These pastimes new bring grace and strength and health. 

(See how the supple muscles strain and play !) 

From us you'll take the light yet strong canoe 

And swift toboggans for the snowy slopes. 

Our snowshoes, too, unlike your swifter skis, 

Will bear you safe o'er snow as light as foam. 

Lacrosse and hockey both from us you'll learn, 

Tossing the ball with skill from net to net, 

Or knocking it along the ground, well-aimed 

To make it pass the rival goal. 

They present a small canoe, snowshoes, lacrosse rackets, hockey sticks, 

and similar things, the presentation being followed by a pantomime 

illustrating Indian games and sports. 
When Sports and Pastimes have ofered their snowshoes, lacrosse 

rackets, etc., the Western World summons all the Gifts, that they may 

together greet the Old World. 

North, Central, and South America, and Islands of the Western 

Seas. [Together.] 
Our Gifts you know, Oh! Sisters, for each his worth has told, 
And now let all together join and New World greet the Old. 

As the New World speaks, the Gifts group themselves and march forward, 
Discovery leading them, singing the "Chorus of Gifts," to the tune 
of "America." 

Gifts of the Western World. [All singing together.] 
Out of the unknown West, 
Bringing our treasures best, 

We come to you. 
From stream and inland sea, 
Forest and prairie free, 
Mines with rich ore in fee, 

Choice Gifts and new. 

18 



TO THE OLD WORLD 

Freely from us receive, 
Freely to us you'll give 

What you have won. 
Broad is the earth, yet small, 
Close-knit its peoples all, 
West unto East doth call, 

None stands alone! 

The Old World Continents now come forward and join hands with those 
of the New World, while the Islands of the Eastern Seas and the 
Islands of the Western Seas circle about them and the Gifts, who 
have scattered themselves through the whole group, pause as the 
Old World thanks the New. 

Europe, Asia, and Africa. [Turning toward the New World Conti- 
nents and speaking together.] 
We marvel as we see them gathered here 
How full, how varied are the Gifts you bear ! 
Grain, fruit and flowers, furs, wool, and garments new, 
We scarce can name the half we take from you. 
For household use, for play, for work, for rest, 
You offer riches hitherto unguessed. 
How can we show the gratitude we feel? 
Let future action our true thanks reveal. 
Your places take among historic lands 
Close-knit by common hopes and life's demands. 

[They pause and turn to Discovery. 
And thou, Discovery', to whom we owe 
The oldest and the newest things we know, 
Tarry not with us; in mankind's behalf, 
We pray thee, seize once more the pilgrim's staff. 

Discovery. 

Gladly I'll venture. W T ho will point the road? 

Asia. 

In my vast North are countries yet untrod. 

Africa. 

My North is ancient; but methinks there he 

Lands rich and varied 'neath my Southern sky. 

Islands of the Eastern Seas. 

Southward from us, if thy new course were bent, 

Thou 'dst find more isles, perchance a continent. 

19 



AMERICA'S GIFTS 

Japan. 

Wilt thou not come, by land, or on the deep, 
To rouse the Far East from its age-long sleep? 

North America. 

We, too, await a fuller, nobler day, 

So let us speed Discovery on his way. 

Sail from my West! The circuit then complete, 

West shall reach East, and East with West shall meet! 

The Pageant closes with the following chorus, " The Speeding of Dis- 
covery" which is sung by all and may be repeated as often as 
needed. 

Old World and New. [All singing together.} 

Seek and find; though the way be long 

The end of toil is sweet. 
Follow new paths, climb new heights 

We will wait for your winged feet. 
When you come at the end with treasure rare 

We will take from your outstretched hand 
New hopes, new ideals, new promise of good, 

True freedom for every land. 

the end. 



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LIBRARY 




